TSA intercepted 1,300 weapons from passengers in 2011

Airport screeners found 1,306 guns in carry-on bags last year, and passengers continue to try sneaking prohibited items onboard, hiding them in their shoes or using hollowed-out books, msnbc.com is reporting.

John Pistole, the man in charge of the Transportation Security Administration, said the full-body scanners are catching much of the contraband. That includes ceramic knives, which don’t show up on the metal detectors and, remarkably, “exotic pets strapped to a passenger’s legs.”

In nearly all these cases, he told the National Press Club on Monday, the passengers don’t plan to use the weapons onboard the plane. “Very few have malicious intent,” he said.

Pistole said the TSA plans to continue expanding its Pre-Check program, which allows passengers who submit information about themselves in advance to get faster airport screening. They usually won’t have to take off their shoes, for example, or remove laptop computers and liquids from carry-on bags. The program is under way at nine airports now, and TSA hopes to expand it to 45 by the end of the year.